Martinsville betting preview: This is not a track for long shots

Posted on April 9, 2021April 10, 2021 by Marcus DiNitto

After long shots took the first three races of the 2021 NASCAR Cup season, there’s been a return to form over the last four, as top drivers on top teams have finished out front. That pattern figures to continue Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, a track that demands a high level of skill and one on which drivers residing near the top of the oddsboard typically win.

RELATED: NASCAR BetCenter | Martinsville odds

The betting favorites for the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 (4 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) are drivers with past success at Martinsville. Martin Truex Jr. (+500 at WynnBET, or bet $100 to win $500), who has won two of the past three races at this half-mile layout — the shortest on the circuit — has the leanest price. Truex is followed by Chase Elliott and Brad Keselowski, both at +600, and then Ryan Blaney (+700), Denny Hamlin (+750) and Joey Logano (+750).

Bettors looking to take a chance in the outright market on a driver to win the race are advised not to look too deep. This is not a track made for long shots.

“This is just not one of those races that underdogs really have too big of a fighting chance at,” said Zack White, a professional bettor who specializes in NASCAR. “You’re going to have guys at the top with the best equipment and starting up front, and they’re going to be at the front at the end almost all the time at Martinsville. You’re not going to see those Michael McDowells or Cole Custers or people like that coming out and finding a way to win here usually.”

White doesn’t bet every race. For example, he tends to stay away from superspeedways, where more randomness comes into play, and sticks to tracks where he’s better able to find edges in the betting markets.

“This is a track where driving talent definitely has to come into play. You have to be able to wheel it, you have to be able to break it, and you have to have your equipment hold up. You not only have to be a top-tier driver, you’ve gotta be a top-tier driver on the top-tier team,” he said.

A prop to consider

A prop with juicy odds bettors may want to look at is whether a driver will win both Stage 1 and 2 and win the race. DraftKings prices the “yes” side of this prop at +650. At Martinsville, one driver often dominates throughout, making the “yes” enticing.

Last November, Elliott led 236 of the 500 laps en route to victory. In the 2019 fall race, Truex Jr. led 464 laps. In spring of that year, Keselowski led 446 laps, including the one under white. Logano, the 2018 fall race winner, led 309 laps.

“That’s just a fast car dominating, getting out front, staying out front, putting cars between them and the slower cars in the back of the pack, maybe finish with 12, 15 cars on the lead lap,” White said. “That’s just the way Martinsville runs.”

How about Hamlin?

Denny Hamlin used to own this track. He’s won here five times, including a stretch of four of six Martinsville races from 2008-10. He’s also been stellar this season, sitting first in the standings while finishing in the top five in six of seven races.

While Hamlin is one of the six drivers with single-digit odds, he’s a significant underdog in several matchups posted at SuperBook USA in Las Vegas. He is +145 vs. teammate Truex (-165, or bet $165 to win $100), +125 vs. Keselowski, Blaney and Elliott (all of whom are -145 against the No. 11), and +110 vs. Logano (+130).

None of these numbers have moved off their openers, an indication oddsmakers priced them correctly.

Despite Hamlin’s success this season, it’s his recent mediocrity at Martinsville that has him a dog against the strongest competition.

When handicapping this race, White suggests, don’t give too much weight to what has happened so far this season and don’t look too hard for comparable tracks. Martinsville is unique.

“You’re going to have a completely different chassis, you’re going to have a completely different setup (than previous races this season),” White said. “A lot of people try to compare Martinsville to other tracks like Loudon. It’s really not similar to Martinsville. … Sometimes people even say Dover or Phoenix, but Martinsville is its own beast.”

There’s always a price, however, that gets a sharp bettor’s attention.

“He’s that big of a dog against Truex because Truex’s most recent performances here at Martinsville have just been dominant, and it would be really hard to fade him,” White said. “(But) I don’t hate Hamlin at all, and if he gets to be too big of a dog, I’ll certainly take the chance there.”

Marcus DiNitto is a writer and editor living in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has been covering sports for nearly two-and-a-half decades and sports betting for more than 10 years. His first NASCAR betting experience was in 1995 at North Wilkesboro Speedway, where he went 0-for-3 on his matchup picks. Read his articles and follow him on Twitter; do not bet his picks.

Posted on April 9, 2021April 9, 2021 by Track Release

We’re baaaack!

After a one year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sonoma Raceway will welcome fans back to the grandstands for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR race weekend, June 5-6.

“We are thrilled to be able to open our gates and welcome fans back to the raceway for our annual NASCAR race weekend in June,” said Sonoma Raceway Executive Vice President and General Manager Jill Gregory. “We are fortunate to have a beautiful, outdoor facility that is perfect for social distancing and will provide a safe and memorable race-day experience for our guests. We look forward to welcoming the greatest fans and drivers in motorsports back to Northern California.”

The NASCAR weekend in wine country will feature the 90-lap Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday as well as the ARCA Menards Series West General Tire 200 50-lap race on Saturday. Fans who wish to attend the Toyota/Save Mart 350 weekend are encouraged to purchase tickets and camping packages soon as availability is limited due to social distancing requirements.

Sonoma Raceway provides some of the best racing action on the NASCAR circuit and fans, as well as competitors, look forward to returning to the 12-turn, 2.52-mile road course. Martin Truex Jr. will attempt to defend back-to-back race wins in wine country in addition to his visit to Sonoma’s Victory Lane in 2013.

“I’ve been waiting for a while to go back to Sonoma and try to get the three-peat,” said Martin Truex, Jr., driver of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. “I’m excited to hear that we’ll have fans in attendance. Sonoma is such a fun track and it’s a great part of the country. It’s beautiful and always great weather. I can’t wait to get there in June and see all of our fans in California that we haven’t seen in quite a while.”

Sonoma Raceway continues to work with local health officials and is dedicated to following all state, local and CDC health guidelines. COVID-19 safety protocols, including face mask requirements, social distancing and cashless transactions, will remain in place for the June race weekend.

The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series event was relocated to Charlotte Motor Speedway.

For tickets and more information, visit www.SonomaRaceway.com, call 800-870-RACE and follow on social media @RaceSonoma.

Posted on April 9, 2021April 9, 2021 by Staff Report

MARTINVILLE, VA. — Eric Goodale made his first career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour start at Martinsville Speedway as a 22-year-old in 2008, bringing home a 10th-place finish.

Fast forward to 2021 and Goodale made his 176th career start in the tour’s long-awaited return to the historic flat-track, and walked away as the winner of Thursday’s Virginia Is For Racing Lovers 200. But for Goodale, it was more than about taking the checkered flag.

“To finally win one feels pretty damn sweet,” said Goodale of taking the Martinsville Grandfather Clock back to Long Island. “It is about that clock. I’ve wanted one for so long.”

“We had this one circled on the schedule as soon as it came out.”

It’s Goodale’s fourth career win. Of the first three, one came at his home track of Riverhead Raceway in New York, one was at Bristol Motor Speedway and one was at Connecticut’s Stafford Motor Speedway. Martinsville, though, comes with a little extra incentive to win.

“this is what @MartinsvilleSwy is all about! WOO!”
– @GoodieMOD58

🕰💋 pic.twitter.com/AtL4rC0YAI

— NASCAR Roots (@NASCARRoots) April 9, 2021

Goodale’s #58 GAF Roofing Chevrolet held off fellow New Yorker Tyler Rypkema and defending tour champion Justin Bonsignore over a final 10-lap dash to the checkered flag.

Rypkema, last year’s Sunoco Rookie of the Year, finished .245 seconds behind Goodale. Bonsignore started at the back of the field after post-qualifying mechanical issues.

Max McLaughlin and Kyle Bonsignore were fourth and fifth, respectively.

RELATED: Complete race results

Doug Coby finished sixth, followed by Tommy Catalano, Patrick Emerling, Woody Pitkat and Jamie Tomaino.

Ryan Preece won the Mayhew Tools Pole Award and led the first 110 laps, but faded late and finished 12th. Fellow NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Ryan Newman was fastest in practice and qualified second, but finished 29th after early race mechanical woes.

The tour will return to the track on Sunday, April 25, for the NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler at Stafford.

The Virginia Is For Racing Lovers 200 streamed live on TrackPass on NBC Gold, and will air on NBCSN on Thursday, Aril 15 at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Eric Goodale, driver of the #58 GAF Roofing Chevrolet, wins the Virginia Is For Racing Lovers 200 for the Whelen Modified Tour at Martinsville Raceway in Martinsville, Virginia on April 8, 2021. (Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)

Posted on April 8, 2021April 8, 2021 by Staff Report

MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Ryan Preece already has one grandfather clock from Martinsville Speedway. He’s in a prime spot to get another.

The NASCAR Cup Series driver earned the Mayhew Tools Dominator Pole Award in Thursday’s Virginia Is For Racing Lovers 200 qualifying at the flat half-mile in record time. Preece qualified for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour opener in the No. 6 Riverhead Raceway Chevrolet in 18.607 seconds (101.768 mph).

“The Dominator” from @mayhewtools for @RyanPreece_ & his crew chief Steve Kopcik ⛏ pic.twitter.com/dYVklF5ftj

— NASCAR Roots (@NASCARRoots) April 8, 2021

He broke the track mark set by Greg Sacks in 1986 of 101.014. Preece won the 2008 tour race at Martinsville. It’s the 17th career pole for Preece, the 2013 tour champion.

Fellow NASCAR Cup driver Ryan Newman, who was fastest in the afternoon practice, qualified second at 18.676 (101.392). Tour regular Eric Goodale was third quick at 18.755 (100.965).

Tommy Catalano qualified fourth and Woody Pitkat fifth.

RELATED: Complete qualifying results

Kyle Ebersole, defending tour champion Justin Bonsignore, Jon McKennedy, Patrick Emerling and Tyler Rypkema rounded out the top 10.

The Virginia Is For Racing Lovers 200 will go green at 8 p.m. ET on TrackPass on NBC Gold and MRN Radio.

Posted on April 8, 2021 by Staff Report

MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Ryan Newman hasn’t won a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race since 2011. And the tour hasn’t been to Martinsville Speedway since 2010.

The return of the tour to the historic flat half-mile may suit the NASCAR Cup Series star. Newman piloted the No. 53 Curb Records Chevrolet to the top of the charts Thursday in the one and half hour practice session.

RELATED: Practice Results

Newman’s time of 18.698 came late in the session and he was the only driver to break the 19-second mark.

Tyler Rypkema was second fastest at 19.573 seconds, followed by Kyle Ebersole at 18.876. JB Fortin and Ronnie Williams were fourth and fifth, respectively.

Is this the best thing you’ve heard all year?

We’re 🟢 G R E E N 🟢 at @MartinsvilleSwy

Live T&S ⏱: https://t.co/f5zXr245ek pic.twitter.com/XKvROTFvXg

— NASCAR Roots (@NASCARRoots) April 8, 2021

Patrick Emerling, Justin Bonsignore, Eric Goodale, Ryan Preece and Craig Lutz completed the top 10.

Newman won four of his first eight NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour starts at Bristol Motor Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway between 2008-11. Since, his best finish is a runner-up at New Hampshire in 2013 and a third third two years ago.

Qualifying is at 6 p.m. ET, with the Virginia Is For Racing Lovers 200 at 8 p.m. The race will stream live on TrackPass on NBC Gold and air on MRN Radio.

Posted on April 8, 2021April 10, 2021 by Chase Wilhelm

Ward, Jeff and Harrison Burton all have NASCAR Xfinity Series victories at Martinsville Speedway. This weekend, Jeb Burton looks to do continue the family tradition.

Martinsville holds a special spot in the hearts of the Burton family, who hail from the South Boston area. Jeff won what was then the Busch Grand National Series race at the .526-mile paperclip-shaped short track in 1990 driving the No. 12 Buick for team owner Sam Ard. Ward earned his victory in 1993, leading 227 of the 300 laps in the No. 2. Jeff recorded a total of 27 race victories during his time in the series, while Ward drove into Victory Lane on four occasions.

Then fast forward to last year when the Xfinity Series made its first stop to Martinsville since 2006 when Kevin Harvick triumphed. It was Jeff’s son, Harrison, who took home the grandfather clock in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Jeb finished fourth during his part-time effort in the No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet.

Jeb feels even more confident this time around.

RELATED: Martinsville weekend schedule

“I know I can do it and I know my team can do it,” Jeb said. “That’s my best track so that would be pretty awesome. Harrison definitely had a really good car last time. I didn’t have anything for him that last race. I think that would be pretty special if we could get that done. Four different family members to do that, I don’t think anybody would ever do that again.”

While Jeb wasn’t even a year old when his father won Martinsville, his most special moment at the track came in 2013 when he earned the pole and finished third, noting it was a really emotional day for the father-son duo.

Jeb Burton and his father Ward Burton stand on the grid during Cup Series qualifying at Martinsville Speedway on October 30, 2015. Credit: Todd Warshaw/NASCAR via Getty Images

Jeb looks to make more Martinsville family memories in the Cook Out 250 (resuming Sunday at noon ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.) The Halifax, Virginia native is in his first full-time season driving the No. 10 Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing, currently sitting sixth in the drivers’ standings with three top-five and five top-10 results in six races.

If you need a seal of approval that Jeb is setting himself up for long-term success, look no further than his teammate AJ Allmendinger, who raced with Ward in the Cup Series for a period of time.

“He’s (Jeb) very passionate,” Allmendinger said. “I’ve followed his career over the duration of me being in NASCAR. … He’s an easy guy to get along with, that’s the biggest thing that stands out to me.

“It’s hard to fit into a race team when you’re the new guy. I’ve been there off and on for obviously three years. Justin (Haley) has been there for three years. …When there’s no practice for the most part and you don’t have any testing, it’s a challenge to get up to speed right away and he hasn’t been full time in a while. I think he’s doing a fantastic job.”

As he continues to jell with a new team heading into Martinsville, Jeb feels that it would almost be a disappointment if he doesn’t win given how he’s in a more secure position than sharing a part-time ride a year prior. Now he looks to reverse the roles and beat his cousin to make history.

“The last time I went there I knew I had a job for next year,” Jeb said. “We’d hadn’t announced our deal yet, but I knew I had this opportunity, so that helped me a lot there. Now, if something happens, we can go get ‘em next week. Where before, if something happens, I have to wait for two months to drive again. That was the biggest thing.

“It just relieves a lot of the stress, but the pressure is still there. I want to perform for me, my family and all my partners. I’m doing everything I can on and off the track to be better.”

Posted on April 8, 2021April 10, 2021 by Reid Spencer

When will it end?

The first seven races of the NASCAR Cup Series season have produced seven different winners, and there’s a good chance that streak will survive Sunday’s Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway (4 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

MORE: Martinsville schedule | Joey Logano on pole

Only twice before in NASCAR’s Modern Era (1972-Present) has a streak of different winners to start a season reached as many as eight—in 2000 and 2003. In the latter year, the string reached nine before Kurt Busch ended it with his second victory of the season at Auto Club Speedway.

The 2000 season produced a record 10 different winners before Dale Earnhardt Jr. broke the streak by winning for the second time that year at Richmond.

On the surface, the numbers would seem to favor an eighth different winner in the 145th Cup event at the .526 mile track, whose races in NASCAR’s top division date to 1949, when Red Byron triumphed in the inaugural event there.

After all, seven of the 10 active short-track winners in the Cup Series have yet to take a checkered flag this season, a group that includes Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman and Chase Elliott.

The first five drivers on that list also are the top five active drivers in career short-track wins, led by Kyle Busch with 16. Denny Hamlin, a seven-time winner last year, has five victories at Martinsville, but he hasn’t claimed a grandfather clock trophy since 2015.

Elliott, the reigning series champion, has only one short-track win on his resume, but he’s the most recent victor at Martinsville, where he won last fall to advance to the Championship 4 race at Phoenix.

Keselowski won the spring races at Martinsville in 2017 and 2019, and he’s optimistic as the schedule turns to back-to-back races at two of his favorite tracks—Martinsville and Richmond.

“I’m pumped,” Keselowski said. “When we got out of Bristol, I left with a smile on my face, knowing that we had Martinsville, we had Richmond — those are two of my best race tracks. At Martinsville, we’ve been just so solid the last few times, and then Richmond was kind of a dominant race for us last fall.”

When it comes to snapping the streak of different winners, the most likely candidate is Martin Truex Jr., who triumphed in the fifth race of the season at Phoenix. In the fall of 2019, Truex got a breakthrough victory at Martinsville and backed that up with a win in last year’s June race.

“Martinsville has become one of our better tracks,” Truex said. “I just feel like, working with the same group for so long, we’ve hit on something the past few years and been able to keep fine-tuning that and put ourselves in position to run up front.

ODDS: Martin Truex Jr. the favorite for Martinsville

“We have a lot of confidence going into this weekend that we can put ourselves in contention again, if we can avoid mistakes and stay out of trouble.”

Posted on April 8, 2021April 10, 2021 by Marcus DiNitto

The NASCAR circuit heads to Martinsville this weekend for the first of two consecutive stops in Virginia, marking a soft launch of WynnBET’s sponsorship that is closely tied to the state. WynnBET, a subsidiary of the posh Las Vegas-based Wynn Resorts, has partnerships with both Virginia tracks – Martinsville Speedway and Richmond Raceway.

WynnBET’s foray into auto racing looks to be only positive for fans and bettors, and to be clear, you do not need to be a resident of Virginia to place a legal bet in the state; you just need to be in the state, so if you’re headed to Martinsville or Richmond from out of state, downloading a betting app, making a deposit and placing a few wagers should be a snap.

WynnBET’s NASCAR deal includes access to live data feeds that allow the sportsbook to post in-race odds that change as the race progresses. We’ve touched several times in this space on in-race betting, or live betting, which offers bettors the opportunity to get involved after the green flag drops. It’s a fun way to wager, and it favors astute race observers able to analyze what they’ve been witnessing to find an edge in the betting markets. Expect in-race betting options to expand as we move forward, particularly with deals such as WynnBET’s.

Another aspect of the deal of interest to race fans – WynnBET lounges are planned for both Virginia tracks. Such sportsbook-themed lounges are becoming popular across the entire sports landscape, as most states’ regulations do not allow actual sportsbooks within sports facilities (Illinois and the District of Columbia are exceptions). To recreate an experience similar to what one would find at a sportsbook, venues and their sponsors are constructing lounges with oddsboards, big screens and bars.

In Virginia, in fact, there are not yet any brick-and-mortar establishments at which to make a bet – mobile sports betting is your only option. The state’s regulations allow for a maximum of 12 sports betting apps, and six are now live and ready for your action. In addition to WynnBET, BetMGM – an official NASCAR partner – is up and running. Barstool Sportsbook expects to launch in Virginia in the coming months.

As is always our recommendation, bettors should shop around various sportsbooks to find the best odds, best experience and best sign-up bonuses, which they nearly all offer. Be careful with these sign-up bonuses, however. Yes, they can be used to a bettor’s advantage, but there’s always fine print to be mindful of. WynnBET is offering a $500 “risk-free bet” when you sign up, and SportsHandle does a nice job of summarizing how this works.

Odds at WynnBET

As of Thursday, numerous betting markets are posted on WynnBET’s Virginia app – race winner, team of race winner, drivers to finish in the top four, top five and top 10, top finisher among groups of six, top Chevy driver, top Ford driver, and the last digit of the winning car. The offerings in Virginia are more robust than what WynnBET has posted in other states.

Picking the race winner is extraordinarily difficult, exemplified through the early stretch of this season with seven different drivers winning the first seven races. If you can nail it, though, you’ll be rewarded with a nice payday.

While Martin Truex Jr., winner of two of the three most recent Cup races in Martinsville, is the betting favorite heading into the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500, priced at +500 (bet $100 to win $500) at WynnBET, he is one of six drivers priced at odds of less than 10/1, an indication we’re in for another wide-open affair.

Truex is followed on the oddsboard by Chase Elliott and Brad Keselowski, both listed at +600. Keselowski has two Martinsville victories on his resume, and Elliott won here in November.

Next up is Ryan Blaney at +700 and then it’s Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano at +750.

With the race favorite plus Hamlin, who was once dominant at Martinsville, and 12/1 Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing has the shortest price in the winning team market, offered at +170 at WynnBET.

Team Penske, which boasts three drivers near the top of the oddsboard, looks to be the better value at +215. Hendrick Motorsports is +300.

Download the WynnBET app and check out all the odds here, and scroll through BetMGM’s opening outright prices here.

Posted on April 8, 2021April 8, 2021 by Team Release

David Gilliland Racing driver Taylor Gray underwent surgery earlier today at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. for a fractured L4 vertebra. Gray will also undergo another surgery in the coming days for a fractured left foot and ankle due to the accident. Gray is expected to make a full recovery.

Gray will not make his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start in the No. 17 entry at Richmond (Va.) Raceway on April 17 as previously scheduled. The No. 17 has been withdrawn from the Richmond event.

MORE: Camping World Truck Series news

Posted on April 7, 2021April 10, 2021 by Staff Report

After a week off from racing, the NASCAR Cup Series is rested, rejuvenated and ready to take on “The Paperclip” under the lights in the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway (resumes on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Want the inside scoop? Here’s what you need to know ahead of the race.

STARTING LINEUP
Bristol winner Joey Logano starts his Team Penske Ford right where he left off, securing the Busch Pole Award for the Saturday night showdown. Joining Logano on the front row is points leader Denny Hamlin, followed by William Byron and Ryan Blaney — both winners already this season — in row two. Chase Elliott, the most recent Martinsville winner, rounds out the top five. Check out the full starting lineup.

RELATED: Pit stall picks | Paint schemes

BETTING ODDS, ONES TO WATCH
Martin Truex Jr. leads this weekend’s NASCAR betting odds after dominating two of the last three races at the southern Virginia track. Truex opens at 11-2 with Hamlin hot on his heels at 23-4, followed by Elliott (6-1), Brad Keselowski (6-1) and Logan0 (7-1), who each have track wins under their belt.

Though winless here, Ryan Blaney (8-1) and Matt DiBenedetto (66-1) present great value alongside the weekend favorites. Two-time winner Kurt Busch (30-1) might have a say, as well.

Blaney finished runner-up in both 2020 Martinsville races, while both of DiBenedetto’s two career top 10s at the track have come in the last two trips and the elder Busch has three consecutive finishes of ninth or better.

Should you side with the sleepers? See the full list of BetMGM Martinsville odds.

TICKETS AND TRAVEL PACKAGES
General admission tickets for Saturday’s Blue-Emu 500 at Martinsville have sold out. However, travel packages and tickets for the fall race may still be available. For more information, visit the Martinsville event site.

SHORT TRACK SETUP
The NASCAR rules package for short tracks will be in effect with a tapered spacer used to set a target of 750 horsepower. The cars will use a reduced downforce package with a shorter spoiler, a shorter splitter overhang and other aerodynamic changes.

GOODYEAR TIRES
Back to the radials we go, with each team getting nine sets of Goodyear Eagle Short Track Radials for the 263-mile race on the 0.526-mile oval.

Drivers will be tasked with tire management on a mixed surface of asphalt straightaways and concrete corners. For the relatively flat track, recommended inflation is 10 psi for the left side tires, 23 psi for the right front and 22 psi for the right rear.

TRACK FACTS, RECENT TRENDS
— Martinsville Speedway is the only track to host a race in every season of NASCAR’s existence and is the only remaining active “Charter Track” on the current schedule.

— Saturday’s Cup Series race is the 145th race at Martinsville but just the second season that it will be a scheduled night race.

— The last five short track races were won by five different drivers, most recently Chase Elliott during the 2020 Cup Series Playoffs.

— After going winless in his first 80 premier series starts, Martin Truex Jr. has won four of the last 10 short track races.

— There have only been 12 first-time winners at Martinsville and the last was Ricky Craven in October 2001.

Source: Racing Insights

FANTASY

Another week means another chance to beat the competition and show off your NASCAR instincts. Take control of your very own team each week with NASCAR Fantasy Live — it’s free to play! Learn everything you need to know at fantasygames.nascar.com.

The 2021 fantasy points leaders are Denny Hamlin (327), Joey Logano (262) and Martin Truex Jr. (247).

ALSO ON NASCAR.COM

Get additional camera views by logging on to NASCAR Drive, where each week a select number of in-car cameras will be available – as well as a battle cam and an overhead look.

New for this season, NASCAR has partnered with LiveLike to add fan engagement in the NASCAR Mobile App. Log in to the mobile app during the race for polls, quizzes, the cheer meter and more – and see instant results from NASCAR fans like you.